More Doublespeak From the Kerry Campaign
Don Baptiste
Issue date: 11/24/03 Section: Perspectives
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As I was perusing John Kerry's campaign website a while back, I noticed that there were a number of pictures and videos of him riding a motorcycle without a helmet on. This struck me as odd since Senator Kerry is from Massachusetts and there is a helmet law in the Bay State. To get to the bottom of this issue, I contacted Kerry campaign headquarters.
When asked about Kerry not wearing a motorcycle helmet, Dag Vega, a Kerry Spokesman, pointed out that Senator Kerry did wear a helmet when he was on the Tonight Show and that, "he only doesn't wear a helmet during rides of one mile or less." This seemed odd to me. I asked what kind of message the pictures on his web site sent. Dag said that Kerry is, "committed to safety and practices what he preaches, these images don't reflect his practices while riding his Harley."
I asked Dag if Senator Kerry supported motorcycle helmet laws. Dag assured me that he did. But don't the people of Massachusetts deserve the right to not wear a helmet during rides of one mile or less just like Senator Kerry likes to do? Here is where the usual Kerry double speak really starts. Dag backed off his initial answer and said that Kerry only rides without a helmet, "in parking lots for campaign events." But what about the pictures on the web site showing Senator Kerry riding without a helmet on, I asked? Dag reiterated that these were only in parking lots.
Now, most of Chicago Business' peer institutions (the usual suspects - the New York Times, CNN, etc.) would have accepted Dag at his word, but not Chicago Business. My research uncovered a campaign video that included a clip of Senator Kerry riding his Harley on the streets of, most likely, New Hampshire (take a look for yourself - doesn't look like a parking lot). It is outrageous that the Kerry Campaign would give false statements to any media outlet, let alone Chicago Business.
Some people that I've discussed this with have accused me of picking on Senator Kerry because I'm not a fan of his. While it is true that I won't be voting for Kerry, I do believe that Kerry not wearing a motorcycle helmet, although fairly trivial, is indicative of his campaign for President as well as his overall behavior while a US Senator. Senator Kerry always wants things both ways. He's pro motorcycle safety yet he doesn't wear a helmet himself. When his hypocrital stance is pointed out, his campaign immediately starts parsing its words and coming up with a nuanced stance to make it seem like he's taking a principled stance. To normal people, it sounds like do as I say not as I do.
 Zapruder himself would be proud, Don |
When asked about Kerry not wearing a motorcycle helmet, Dag Vega, a Kerry Spokesman, pointed out that Senator Kerry did wear a helmet when he was on the Tonight Show and that, "he only doesn't wear a helmet during rides of one mile or less." This seemed odd to me. I asked what kind of message the pictures on his web site sent. Dag said that Kerry is, "committed to safety and practices what he preaches, these images don't reflect his practices while riding his Harley."
I asked Dag if Senator Kerry supported motorcycle helmet laws. Dag assured me that he did. But don't the people of Massachusetts deserve the right to not wear a helmet during rides of one mile or less just like Senator Kerry likes to do? Here is where the usual Kerry double speak really starts. Dag backed off his initial answer and said that Kerry only rides without a helmet, "in parking lots for campaign events." But what about the pictures on the web site showing Senator Kerry riding without a helmet on, I asked? Dag reiterated that these were only in parking lots.
Now, most of Chicago Business' peer institutions (the usual suspects - the New York Times, CNN, etc.) would have accepted Dag at his word, but not Chicago Business. My research uncovered a campaign video that included a clip of Senator Kerry riding his Harley on the streets of, most likely, New Hampshire (take a look for yourself - doesn't look like a parking lot). It is outrageous that the Kerry Campaign would give false statements to any media outlet, let alone Chicago Business.
Some people that I've discussed this with have accused me of picking on Senator Kerry because I'm not a fan of his. While it is true that I won't be voting for Kerry, I do believe that Kerry not wearing a motorcycle helmet, although fairly trivial, is indicative of his campaign for President as well as his overall behavior while a US Senator. Senator Kerry always wants things both ways. He's pro motorcycle safety yet he doesn't wear a helmet himself. When his hypocrital stance is pointed out, his campaign immediately starts parsing its words and coming up with a nuanced stance to make it seem like he's taking a principled stance. To normal people, it sounds like do as I say not as I do.